FAQ
American Door
Garage Door Repair - Residential Doors - Commercial Garage Doors - Nederland - Beaumont, Texas
American FAQ
Q. Are Amarr garage doors "Made in USA"?
A. Yes!
Q. What is the best garage door for me?
A. Each homeowner has unique needs for a new
garage door based
on the desired styling, the level of care & maintenance
required, the energy efficiency and the location of the garage
in one’s home. Steps to determine which garage door best suits
you are:
1. Determine the material that best suits the care & maintenance
that you desire. Amarr offers garage doors made from steel, wood
composite, wood and aluminum.
2. Choose the door design that best complements your home,
including window, color and decorative hardware options.
3. Determine the level of energy efficiency and noise reduction
that best suits your needs depending on if you have a room above
or adjacent to your garage or have children that play in front
of the garage. Most Amarr doors are available with insulation or
no insulation options.
Q. Why should I choose an insulated door?
A. A garage door opening is very large. Insulated doors will
help to reduce the transfer of heat or cold air into your
garage. This is important for a number of reasons:
1) If your garage is attached to your home, air in the garage
can travel through the doorway to your living area. An insulated
garage door will reduce the transfer of air from the outside to
the inside.
2) If you use your garage as a workshop, your comfort will be a
top priority. An insulated garage door will help keep the
temperature in the garage within a narrower temperature range as
compared to the extreme range of the outside temperature.
3) If your garage is below another room in your home, air can
travel through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the
room above. An insulated door will keep temperatures in the
garage fairly stable to reduce the temperature fluctuation in
the room above.
4) An insulated garage door is generally quieter and has a more
attractive interior than a non-insulated door.
Q. Does Amarr have garage doors that qualify for the Energy Tax
Credit?
A. No, effective 1/1/2011, garage doors no longer qualify for
the Federal Energy Tax Credit since garage doors are not a
product category that Energy Star rates. Only Energy Star
building products qualify for the current tax credit.
Amarr has
insulated garage doors that had previously met the Energy Tax
Credit qualifications, but the requirements were changed for
2011.
Q. How long does installation of a garage door take a garage
door dealer?
A. Professional garage door dealer/installers can typically
install a door in a few hours and are careful to make sure
safety requirements are met. Installations by most homeowners
typically span several days and cause much frustration. In
addition, incorrect installation can void certain warranties, so
we recommend a trained garage door installer to handle the job
for you. One of the other services a professional garage door
dealer can provide is the disposal of your old garage door if
you are replacing a door.
Garage Door Glossary
A
A-Frame
Support member used to fasten torsion spring assembly of a
vertical lift door to the wall above the door opening.
Adjusting Cone (Winding Sleeve, Winding Cone)
Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and
tension adjustment.
Angle-Mounted Track
A method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using a fully
adjustable continuous angle.
Astragal
Weather-strip attached to the bottom of the door to seal it
against the floor.
B
Backroom
The distance from the door opening into the building to the
first obstruction at the required headroom.
Booster Spring
Additional spring provided to compensate for weakened
counterbalance. (Usually extension spring.)
Bottom Fixture (Bottom Corner Bracket)
A structural support located on the bottom section, which hold
track rollers and provide for attachment of the lifting cables
on the sectional doors.
Bracket Mounted
Method of fastening vertical track to a doorjamb using jamb
brackets.
C
Cable Clamps
A manufactured device used to secure two pieces of cable to each
other. Size of clamp is determined by the cable diameter.
Cable Drums
Grooved drums fitted on torsion spring shaft onto which lifting
cable is wound when door is opened.
Cable Safety Device
A safety bottom fixture specifically designed to prevent a door
from falling in the event of cable breakage.
Carry-Away Post
A lightweight extruded aluminum post/track assembly which
substitutes for door jamb in multiple door installations where a
clear span is required. Can be released and carried from
opening.
Center Hinge
Flat hinge located on all intermediate stiles to allow for
section break as door operates.
Center Lift Cable
An additional lifting cable attached to the exterior of the door
to provide support for extra wide or heavy doors.
Center Stile/Stile/Mullion/ Mutt
Vertical members of a door section which provide structural
rigidity and location for center hinge attachment.
Chain Hoist
Refers to sprocket or pocket wheel attached to shaft with chain
operation giving varying mechanical advantage in various ratios.
Contour Track
Special horizontal track with more than one radius used in
specialty applications.
Corner Bracket
Bottom Fixture
Counterweight
Refers to design of door mechanisms using weights instead of
springs to counterbalance door weight.
Cycle
One full opening and closing operation of a sectional door.
D
DASMA
Door and Access System Manufacturing Association. International
manufacturing trade association with 5 divisions: residential &
commercial sectional doors; rolling doors; operator &
electronics; specialty; and association division.
Dead Load
A static applied load. A load without movement.
Double Car (DC)
Door section width > 10' 1".
Double Low Headroom Track
Special horizontal track with a pair of tracks used to reduce
the high point of travel of the top section of a door to permit
installation in a low headroom application.
Double Shaft
Double torsion spring shaft used when additional space is
required to accommodate counterbalance spring wire.
Duplex Spring
A combination of two torsion springs of different diameters
telescoped within common spring plugs.
E
Edge Hinge (Roller Hinge)
Graduated hinge, which is attached to end stile of the door
sections to carry track rollers and allows for section breaks as
a garage door operates.
Electric Interlock
Interlock to prevent door operation by electric motor under
specific circumstances.
Electric Opener
Electric motorized device to control door cycling.
End Stile
Stile located at each end of a door section, which provides for
attachment of edge hinges. These stiles carry the total section
load and should be of superior strength to provide structural
integrity.
Extension Spring
Counterbalance springs, which provide lifting power by
stretching. Generally mounted above horizontal tracks.
Exterior Lock
Keyed lock, which can be operated on exterior of the door.
F
Ferrules
A metal ring or cap that is affixed to a cable so as to form a
bottom or loop on the end of the cable.
G
GDO's
Garage Door Openers
Graduated Seal
Design of tapered vertical track and a graduated height of edge
hinges, which assure a weather tight, fit between door and jamb.
H
Headroom
The distance above the top of the door opening to the nearest
obstruction.
Headplate
Special plate attached to front of horizontal tracks for limited
sideroom application.
Header Seal
Weather-stripping which fastens to the top of the door to seal
the door along the top of the opening.
High Lift
Lift Clearance
High Cycle Springs
Special counterbalance springs with increased cycle lift
capability for high usage doors.
Horizontal Track Assembly
An assembly made up of a piece of track and which can be
reinforced with a piece of angle that is used to both guide and
support the door in the horizontal position.
I
IDA International Door Association
The dealer/installer trade association.
Inclined Track
A horizontal track that follows the slope or slant of a building
roof line.
Inside Lock
Spring loaded, sliding deadbolt lock operated only from interior
of the door.
J
Jackshaft Opener
Electric operator which mounts on the wall or ceiling and
directly drives torsion spring shaft.
Jamb Angle (Jamb Bracket)
"L" shaped bracket used to fasten vertical tracks to doorjambs.
Jamb Seal
Weather-stripping attached to doorjambs to help seal door along
the jambs.
Joint Seal
Weather-stripping attached to door section meeting edges to seal
door between sections.
K
L
Lap Jamb
Condition where door sections lap the door opening one inch on
each jamb.
Lateral Force
A force applied from or toward the side.
Lift Clearance
The distance above the top of the door opening to the centerline
of the horizontal track. This term is often confused with the
term "headroom."
Lite
Term for windows in sectional doors.
Low Headroom
Hardware accessories to provide for door installation with
minimum headroom conditions. Usually less than 16" headroom.
M
Metallurgist Report
A report of document that describes the composition of a
material.
Mill Certification
A report or document from the producing mill that provides all
pertinent data relative to the composition, structure, heat,
etc. of a given material.
Mullion
A slender dividing bar fixed or removable between two doors.
Usually designed to carry wind load and not vertical load.
N
Normal Headroom
Hardware standard to provide for door installation with standard
headroom conditions. Usually 16" to 24" of headroom.
O
One Piece Door
Also known as Shin-busters. A door that operates as one-piece,
rather than a door made of multiple sections.
Open Back Door
Hollow door with no insulation or back.
Opening
Area of the garage exterior where a garage door will hang for
closure.
Opening Height
Distance from garage floor to the top of an opening.
Opening Width
Distance between left and right jambs of an opening.
Opener / Operator
A device used to control the up and down motion of a door.
Outside Hook-Up
Bottom fixture with an arm that bends around vertical track to
receive lifting cables. Generally used with low headroom
hardware.
P
Panel
The area between stiles in a door section. The "look" of a door
is considered the "panel style."
Pass Door
Entry person door which is built-in to a sectional door.
Perimeter Seal
Complete weather stripping package for sectional doors
consisting of astragal, jamb seal and header seal.
Pocket Wheel
A wheel or drum machined in a way to receive the individual
links of a chain. Used to transmit direct power.
Push Down Spring Bumper
Spring-activated push rods mounted on horizontal tracks to force
door down during closing portion of door cycle. Generally used
with jackshaft type operator or manual chain hoist with standard
lift.
Q
R
Radial Force
A force generated from the center of an object toward the
outside.
Rollers
Steel and nylon, usually with ball-bearing wheels that allow
sections to roll freely along door tracks.
R-Value
R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a garage door,
or how well the garage door insulates. The higher the R-value,
the increased thermal efficiency of a garage door. Be aware that
manufacturer’s R-value calculations may vary. To compare
R-value, make sure manufacturers follow the DASMA (Door and
Access Systems Manufacturers Association) guidelines by stating
S
Sandwich Door
Triple-Layer: Steel + Insulation + Steel Interior.
Section
Individual components of a garage door. Garage doors are made up
of multiple sections to fill the appropriate height of a garage
opening.
Shaft Bearings
A free rolling, cylindrical, ball bearing that is used to guide
the torsion shaft, maintain alignment, and reduce friction.
Sheaves
A pulley with a ball bearing built into it that is designed to
handle a cable and used to control the movement of the cables
employed in door counter balance system.
Side Bearing Plate (End Bearing Plate)
A bracket that attaches to the horizontal supports and possibly
the wall to provide a bearing surface for the torsion shaft near
the ends.
Sideroom
Distance from each doorjamb to the nearest obstruction.
Single Car (SC)
Door section width < 10'
Spring Assembly
Hardware used to make up door counter-balance assembly.
Spring Bumper
Small spring-cushioned bumper attached to horizontal track to
stop door at full open position.
Spring Pad (Center Bearing Plate)
Plate or bracket which is located on the wall above door opening
to receive torsion spring assembly support brackets.
Spring Fittings
The sleeves or cones that are used to adapt the torsion springs
to the torsion shaft. Torsion springs usually have two fittings
or cones. One is a stationary sleeve or spring retainer, while
the second piece is an adjusting cone or winding sleeve.
Stationary Sleeves (Spring Retainers)
Part that fits into the end of a torsion spring permitting the
spring to be anchored to the spring anchor plate.
Steel Gauge
Steel gauge is the thickness of the steel material used in
garage doors. The lower the steel gauge number the thicker the
steel. Real steel gauge is the true thickness of the steel
material. Nominal steel gauge is the average thickness of the
steel material used in production due to a plus/minus tolerance
level. Real steel gauge is the minimum gauge of steel material
used in production.
Stiles
Vertical members of a door section which provide structural
rigidity and a location for hinge attachment. Generic term.
Strut
Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a
door, as well as reduce deflection of a door section in the
horizontal position.
Swing-Up Post
An extruded aluminum post which substitutes for doorjambs in
multiple door installations where a clear span is required.
Operated by a hand winch or electric operator, it swings up
parallel to header.
T
Tapered Vertical Track
Refers to the graduated spacing of the vertical track away from
the jamb permitting weather-tight closing of door against jamb.
Top Fixture
Adjustable brackets, which usually carry track rollers, mounted
on the top corners of the top section of the sectional door.
Torsion Shaft
The shaft of a torsion spring assembly, which transmits lifting
power of the torsion springs to cable drums and lifting cables.
Torsion Springs
Counterbalance springs which provide balancing power by winding
and unwinding through door cycle.
Track
Channel shaped metal bars that guide rollers on sectional garage
doors.
Trajectory
The arc of travel or sweep of the top section as the door is
raised from closed to open position.
Trolley Operator
Electric operator, which mounts above the door in the horizontal
position and lifts door by pulling, and pushing the top section.
Specifically designed for normal headroom and low headroom
doors.
Truss (Struts)
Support stiffener used to increase wind load capacities of a
door as well as reduce deflection of the door sections in the
horizontal position.
U
Upper Vertical Track
Horizontal track assembly on a vertical lift door.
V
Vertical Lift
Refers to a hardware design that causes doors to open
vertically, no horizontal tracks required. This hardware is
normally operated with spring counterbalance, but also possible
with weight counterbalance.
Vertical Track
Track assembly mounted to door opening jambs to guide and
support a sectional door in the "closed" or "vertical" position.
W
Wind Load
The amount of force (in PSF) exerted by the wind along the face
of the door as it stands in the opening.
Winding Sleeve (Adjusting Cone)
Part that fits into torsion spring permitting winding and
tension adjustment.
Once you’re our customer, you’ll always be our customer.
Jeff Clack